2024 BMW iX1 xDrive30 M Sport Review

Last year, we tested the new third-generation BMW X1, the brand’s entry-level SUV, and were impressed by its all-round capability. Most importantly about it, unlike previous X1s, the new X1 feels more like a BMW than before thanks to its overall character, improved quality and driving dynamics. As with many other manufacturers, electrification has hit BMW’s line up and the X1 is now available as an ell-electric version called the iX1. Is the 2024 BMW iX1 xDrive30 M Sport the best electric SUV for around $100,000? Let’s find out.

How much does the 2024 BMW iX1 xDrive30 M Sport cost to buy?

While the regular X1 range starts at $60,400 plus on-road costs, the all-electric iX1 kicks off from $78,900 plus on-road costs for the entry-level eDrive20, while the higher-spec xDrive30 M Sport tested here is priced at $84,900 +ORC (or around $92,000 drive away, depending on location).

iX1 xDrive30 M Sport standard equipment:

• 19-inch alloy wheels with run flat tyres and adaptive suspension
• M Sport-specific exterior styling features
• Dusk- and rain-sensing all-LED exterior lighting
• Rain-sensing automatic wipers
• Keyless entry and start with a power bootlid
• Roof rails
• Dual-zone climate control with rear vents
• Suede and synthetic ‘Veganza’ leather upholstery on the seats and dashboard
• Electric front seat adjustment with driver’s memory
• M leather steering wheel with one paddle shifter for ‘boost’ mode
• Heated and auto-folding mirrors with passenger-side auto-dropping in reverse
• Auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors
• BMW ‘Live Cockpit Professional’ with a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display and a 10.7-inch touchscreen
• ‘Connected Package Professional’ with live services, live traffic information and concierge services (three-year subscription)
• Satellite navigation with augmented reality view
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• AM/FM/DAB+ digital radio
• 100W six-speaker sound system
• 4x USB-C ports (2x front, 2x rear)
• Wireless phone charger
• Head-up display
• Three-year Chargefox public charging subscription
• Type 2 charging cable for public charging
• ‘Personal’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Efficient’ drive mode selection
• Adjustable regenerative braking

iX1 xDrive30 M Sport standard safety equipment:

• Seven airbags (including a front centre unit)
• Auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist and intersection assistance
• Low speed reverse AEB
• Adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Front and rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane departure warning with lane keep assist
• Adaptive lane guidance
• Matrix adaptive high beam functionality
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Front and rear parking sensors with reversing assistant
• 360-degree camera
• Semi-autonomous parking functionality

The iX1 range received a five-star ANCAP rating in 2022 with scores of 86 per cent for adult protection, 88 per cent for child protection, 76 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 94 per cent for safety assist.

iX1 xDrive30 options:

• Enhancement Package with a panoramic sunroof, 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, 12-way electric front seat adjustment with massaging functionality and a heated steering wheel: $3,616
• 20-inch alloy wheels: $1,539

iX1 xDrive30 M Sport colour range:

• Alpine White
• Mineral White metallic: $1,385
• Cape York Green metallic: $1,385
• Space Silver metallic: $1,385
• Black Sapphire metallic: $1,385
• M Portimao Blue metallic (fitted to our test car): $1,385
• Frozen Pure Grey matte metallic: $3,847

The iX1 xDrive30 M Sport is equipped with black suede and synthetic leather trim with blue stitching as standard, but synthetic leather trim in brown, black or cream (like our test car) is a no-cost option. In addition to upholstery colour, iX1 buyers can also choose a no-cost wood or aluminium trim.

While there are plenty of new electric SUVs on the market for under the $100,000 mark – the Tesla Model Y (priced from $65,400 plus on-road costs) sells very strongly but other options like the Mercedes-Benz EQA, Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 are also available – we think that the Volvo XC40 Recharge Ultimate (priced from $85,990 plus on-road costs or around $95,000 drive away) is the iX1 xDrive30 M Sport’s main rival.

While they share a lot of standard equipment, the BMW adds a head-up display, larger central and driver’s displays, a type two-to-type two charging cable and a Chargefox charging subscription over the Volvo. In return, the Volvo adds premium paint, a panoramic roof, a 13-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, larger 20-inch alloy wheels, heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel. Equipping the iX1 to the XC40 Recharge Ultimate’s level means adding metallic paint, Enhancement Package and 20-inch wheels, which takes the total price to around $98,500 drive away and inferior value to the XC40.

How powerful is the 2024 BMW iX1 xDrive30?

Under the bonnet of the 2024 BMW iX1 xDrive30 is a 67kWh (64.7kWh useable) lithium-ion battery with a claimed WLTP range of 440km based on claimed consumption of 18.3kWh/100km. The iX1 xDrive30 can be charged at up to 130kW on a DC fast charger for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in as little as 29 minutes or up to 22kW on an AC charger. Conveniently, both type two and type three cables are included with the iX1 xDrive30’s purchase price, as is a three-year subscription to Chargefox public chargers.

The iX1 xDrive30 uses a dual-motor all-wheel drive set up making a healthy 230kW of power and 494Nm of torque, which enables it to sprint to 100km/h from stand still in just 5.6 seconds. Under the body of the XC40 Recharge Ultimate is a larger 82kWh battery for a claimed 485km of range on the WLTP cycle. It can be charged at up to 200kW for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in just 27 minutes – quicker than the iX1 and for more range as well. The Volvo is also faster with 300kW of power and a claimed 4.8 second 0-100km/h sprint time, but the iX1 isn’t exactly slow and provides more than enough punch for most people.

What is the 2024 BMW iX1 xDrive30 M Sport like to drive?

Based on the same ‘UKL2’ platform as the regular X1 and new Mini Countryman, the 2024 BMW iX1 xDrive30 M Sport is quite nice to drive. It rides a touch firm in a typical BMW way, but it also feels light on its feet – despite its porky 2,010kg tare mass – and it can be fun to drive, more so than the XC40 Recharge Ultimate. The steering isn’t as heavy as you’d expect from a BMW, and could be a touch lighter, but offers reasonable feel. On a back road, the iX1 xDrive30 M Sport handles well and is well balanced.

Elsewhere in the driving experience, the 2024 BMW iX1 xDrive30 M Sport is comfortable and quiet. Its ride quality is nicely damped and offers good body control, while even bigger bumps don’t phase it. Despite no engine, road noise levels remain relatively low, while the active safety features are well tuned, particularly the lane guidance assistant, which provides semi-autonomous highway driving in combination with the adaptive cruise control.

How practical is the 2024 BMW iX1 xDrive30 M Sport?

While it may not appear it from the outset, the new iX1’s cabin is a big step forward for the X1 name. The quality – with synthetic leather on the seats, real leather on the steering wheel and a stitched dashboard – has been improved and feels great, while the switchgear has also been redesigned. We love that it no longer feels like a parts bin interior thanks to bespoke parts being used – take, for example, the speaker grilles for the Harman Kardon sound system, which look great and feel nice to touch as well. Inside the iX1 definitely feels more special than the XC40 Recharge Ultimate.

Another example is the new centre console. There’s no big box underneath the centre armrest, rather a shallow tray and a big uncovered area below, but the design of the console itself is cool with a bridge-like arch allowing for easy access to the area below.

On the bridge console are an array of buttons like the volume controller, drive mode selectors and even the selector for the transmission – we also love that there’s no button for park, instead activating the handbrake automatically puts the transmission into park and there’s also no headlight dial either, just a button to select either auto or low beam (the lights can’t be fully switched off – excellent stuff, BMW!) plus the rear fog light. Simple and brilliant.

Elsewhere in the iX1’s cabin is quite practical with big cup holders, a prominent vertical wireless charger with a phone holder, big door bins, a big glovebox and the aforementioned huge tray underneath the centre console bridge (which we wish was fully covered).

In the centre of the iX1’s cabin is a 10.7-inch touchscreen with BMW’s new Operating System 8 that features live services, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation with live traffic and digital radio. Unlike the older iDrive 7 system, it’s solely controlled via touch – the controller wheel that iDrive made famous no longer features on the iX1, unfortunately. It’s a fully featured system but can be daunting to use at first thanks to the sheer amount of features available, while its menu system isn’t the easiest to use. If you order an iX1 now, it will be equipped with the newer OS 9 system as well, which we think is easier to use thanks to the shortcut buttons for the AC system on the bottom of the screen.

The back seat of the iX1 is quite spacious for the segment – especially compared to the cramped Mercedes-Benz EQA – and two six-footers will fit fine, and three across is possible too. The headroom – even with the panoramic sunroof of our test car – is excellent.

The back seat is also well featured with map pockets, air vents, a centre armrest with cup holders, two USB-C ports, reasonable door pockets and a storage area below the air vents – though the soft plastics on the front door tops don’t continue into the rear and heated seats aren’t available. The seats recline for extra comfort and they slide fore and aft as well to increase either legroom or boot space.

The boot of the 2023 BMW iX1 xDrive30 measures a healthy 490-litres with the seats up – 50L less than the regular X1 but 47L larger than the XC40 Recharge Ultimate – and 1,495L with the seats folded, while there’s unfortunately no front boot. The boot features a massive underfloor storage area that almost doubles the available space, as well as a few hooks and side storage on both areas. As is the case with most BMW products and the XC40 Recharge Ultimate, unfortunately there’s no spare wheel.

What warranty covers the 2024 BMW iX1 xDrive30 M Sport?

Like other new BMW products, the 2024 BMW iX1 is covered by a five-year/unlimited km warranty with three years of roadside assistance, while an eight-year/160,000km warranty covers the main battery. BMW does not quote pay-as-you-go service pricing, but a four- and six-year service packages cost $1,263 and $1,800 respectively. Like other new BMW products, the iX1 uses condition-based servicing, where the car decides when it needs a service.

Volvo’s new-car warranty matches BMW’s at five years/unlimited km with an eight-year/160,000km warranty for the battery, but its roadside assistance lasts for five years, which is extendable to eight years in total if the vehicle is serviced at a Volvo dealership. For the XC40 Recharge, Volvo also includes a five-year/150,000km service plan, though no free charging.

Should I buy a 2024 BMW iX1 xDrive30 xDrive30 M Sport?

Overall, the 2024 BMW iX1 xDrive30 only adds to the latest-generation BMW X1’s qualities and value aside, doesn’t subtract anything either. The extra weight of the battery and dual motors hasn’t dulled the iX1’s fun factor, nor its comfort levels, while its performance is almost on par with the performance X1 M35i. Then there’s the big improvement in interior presentation compared to the last X1, while it’s also more practical as well – particularly in the rear seat, which is pretty large in the segment.

Counting against the iX1 is its value equation as it costs almost $15,000 more than the equivalent X1 xDrive20i, and equipped like its main rival, it costs almost $100,000 drive away. Plus, while its performance is healthy, its DC fast charging speed and range could be better. But overall, the iX1 is a great addition to the sub-$100,000 electric SUV market and we think it’s worthy of consideration.